Do you guys think that Shembo could be moved inside? He's a downhill torpedo like Manti but may be faster. We have some young OLB's who seem ready to see the field. I think it would be a good fit.

Calabrese and Fox will both be starting in the middle. They both compliment eachother perfectly as Carlo is great in run support and fox is pretty good in pass coverage.

 

They compliment each other when they are subbing for each other. I dont see them starting side by side.

They compliment each other when they are subbing for each other. I dont see them starting side by side.

 

Well you really think Calabrese and Fox will be back next year and both not starting? sorry I just don't see it. Both have the experience and obviously the talent both playing a vital role for the number one defense in the country. Yes Grace might be a good player but atm he's not as good as Fox or Calabrese or he would be playing. Grace hasn't touched the field so he'll get a 5th year, theres still time for the two to improve on their weaknesses.

I don't think Calabrese is going to be asked back jmo. I think we need to turn Grace loose and let him do what we think he can do. Then I hope AA coming in early will give him a good jump start on learning. I think AA will be our starter by game 3 just a guess.

lol, AA will not start for us next season either. You are just in love with the shiny new toy/recruit.

Yeah but I think we underestimate what Manti brings to that D. A MLB really is the QB of the defense. Manti's intangibles, just like a QB's, are hugely important and a big part of this D's sucess this season...

 

No doubt. But if Nix and Tuitt aren't eating up double teams, Manti doesn't have the year he had.

 

I probably stated it wrong. Manti is irreplaceable and the D won't be as good without him.

 

I guess my point is, I "think" it is easier to replace a stud MLB then it would be to replace Nix/Tuitt. But I could be wrong.

Look at the Bears D with Brian Urlacher on the field. The guy may be among the slower middle linebackers in the game at this point in his career, and yet the defense sees an appreciable step back when he isn't on the field. Not that you don't need smarts at other positions on the field (you can't fake field awareness at corner or safety for instance), but if there's a position on the field that affects the other 10 guys on defense, it's typically the MLB.

 

Te'o having his best year - a year worthy of a Heisman run - in the Blue and Gold coinciding with Notre Dame's best defense in the modern era is no coincidence.

 

True. But I also think it has to do with having 3 1st round talents in the front 7, with at least 6 of the starters and some of the backups having NFL talent helps too. When is the last time ND had this much talent in a front 7 across the board?

 

Without the talent around him, Manti would be Luke Kuechly, amazing player on a good/average defense.

We will likely see Carlo and Fox starting side by side with Grace getting subbing time on passing downs for Carlo. This will give Grace time to grow into the position vs just throwing him in there. I always crack up how folks are ready to just discard Carlo for Grace or Alex Anzalone. Funny part is that if Carlo is such a liability why has Grace not seen ONE single meaningful snap subbing for Carlo, Fox or Manti.

 

In fact, during the first game of the season when Carlo was suspended against Navy, Grace did not even get ONE first team snap that game. So, for all you Carlo bashers, tell me why Grace is not getting ANY snaps to prepare him for next year?? I will tell you why, because Carlo is that far ahead of Grace.

 

As for Anzalone coming in and starting, not happening. Our LB's make many of the position calls and need to read the offense. That takes time. Earlier this year, I remember watching Fox, Carlo and Manti literally lining up our freshmen DL and DB's. We have a very intelligent group of LB's and that is a great assett.

 

As one guy said, you can't just fall for the shiny new recruit because he has 4 or 5 stars. They need to earn their college playing time.

And there's always a Guy named Rabasa..........

I'm boycotting this thread simply because the impossibility of the thread's title.

True. But I also think it has to do with having 3 1st round talents in the front 7, with at least 6 of the starters and some of the backups having NFL talent helps too. When is the last time ND had this much talent in a front 7 across the board?

 

Without the talent around him, Manti would be Luke Kuechly, amazing player on a good/average defense.

 

Right but what me and calves are saying is that good defense becomes great with Manti. Maybe we're getting chicken/egg here?

Carlo (and his people)

Dan Fox and his flowing locks

 

Jarrett Grace

Danny Spond

 

Kendall Moore

Anthony Rebasa

 

Michael Deeb

Alex Anzalone

Doug Randolph

Joe Schmidt (walk-on/special teamer)

 

With a group like this, I'm not exactly nervous about the level of play falling off too dramatically especially considering the evolution of the players on this list and the best defensive line in the country (Tuitt, Nix, Day, Ishaq) playing in front of them and an experienced secondary behind them (Jackson, Russell, Farley & Barrati)

 

Hate to say it, but the defense could actually be better next year, even without Te'o, Kap & Zeke...

Right but what me and calves are saying is that good defense becomes great with Manti. Maybe we're getting chicken/egg here?

 

Yep, probably. Defense isn't amazing without Manti, Manti isn't as amazing without defense.